4 Advantages of Cloud for the Construction Industry
By Aleks Hara, Director, Cloud Service Sales
March 2, 2022
As one of the most important industries in the world, it should be no surprise that the construction industry needs to explore every advantage that cloud based systems can offer. Perhaps you don’t immediately think of construction sites when someone mentions cloud technologies, but there is a strong connection.
Modern construction companies need systems that facilitate easy and rapid communication and sharing of information. Documents and other materials that are being shared between site-based teams and those off-site need to be synchronized and easy to locate.
Site managers, architects, and the entire on-site crew all need to remain connected securely in a way that is efficient and encourages collaboration.
Here are a few of my thoughts on why cloud in construction is so important:
- You can easily facilitate remote working. Services like Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Microsoft 365 can be easily deployed. This allows any of your users to access their desktop applications and systems from any device, increasing both flexibility and productivity.
- Enable and secure devices. By ensuring that your data and applications are stored and managed centrally, you can enable easier access to information on construction projects, but it is also easier to tighten security around the data – not just with traditional measures such as login passwords, but intelligent agents inside your cloud that detect and highlight unusual behavior.
- Controlling costs. You only need to pay for the exact number of licenses for applications and storage as they are used – nothing else. You don’t have upfront costs for server space or application licenses. Pay as you go and only pay for what you are using.
- Best connectivity and collaboration. You can connect together architects, engineers, and other construction crew members in a way that is more efficient and that encourages greater collaboration between team members, including edge and remote locations.
The use cases are out there. The construction industry has traditionally been very capital and investment intensive, but this allows site management to take a different approach. Build a more flexible cloud-based system that encourages communication and collaboration and also improves data security.
Building Information Models can be easily accessed on mobile devices and used by on-site or remote team members – you can check on designs from anywhere in the world. Suggestions and ideas about existing documents can easily be noted with tracking control so all versions of relevant documents are retained.
This can really be a game changer for smaller to medium size construction companies. You may not have the deep pockets of the majors to invest up front, but now there is no need – at least for all your technology and communication requirements.
Use a service such as AVD so everyone connected to your construction project can collaborate on the same project and you can be assured that you will be controlling costs and also improving productivity. That’s the cloud advantage.
Let me know what you think by leaving a comment here or get in touch via my LinkedIn. Our website features several articles, case studies, and other resources that can all help you commence your cloud journey.
About
WatServ is an IT solutions provider that helps organizations digitally transform through cloud technologies and managed services.
Serving clients as a trusted advisor since 2006, WatServ provides experience-tested, strategic solutions across all stages of the digital transformation journey. Clients choose WatServ to migrate infrastructure and applications to the cloud, secure critical data, implement disaster recovery, deploy virtual desktop, enable data-readiness for productivity solutions and manage IT environments.
Our clients span a broad range of industries, and we’re a global supplier of IT services for many Brookfield Portfolio Companies. To help our mid-size clients, we provide scalable offerings that simplify cloud adoption and drive business optimization. For enterprise clients, we co-create cloud solutions that enable stability and efficiency for complex IT tools and processes.
With more than 15 years of experience, WatServ has a track record of delivering quantifiable business results and a superior client experience. Ranked as one of Canada’s Top 100 Solution Providers for the last three years in a row, WatServ is always on.
